Listen, folks, we’ve got a serious problem here, and it’s called Shigella. This bad boy is causing a lot of trouble for kids, especially in the poorer parts of the world. Diarrhea, death, you name it. And let me tell you, it’s getting tougher to beat with antibiotics. But here’s the good news: we’ve got vaccines on the horizon, and they’re looking promising, really promising.

Now, I know what you’re thinking. The vaccine schedule for kids is already packed, it’s huge. And it costs a lot. So, you’re asking, “Do we really need a Shigella vaccine?” Well, we’ve done the homework, we’ve crunched the numbers using the World Health Organization’s top-notch methods. We’ve looked at the science, the policies, the money – all of it.

We’ve talked to the experts, we’ve been out in the field, we’ve run the models. And let me tell you, the results are in. They’re in a bunch of papers, and we’ve put it all together right here. The bottom line? A Shigella vaccine could be a game-changer. It’s not just about the worst cases; it could help with the milder stuff and even prevent kids from being stunted as they grow.

But here’s the deal: it’s all about choices. The big pharma companies have to decide if they’re going to make a standalone vaccine or throw it into the mix with others. That decision, that’s what’s going to make or break it. It’s going to determine if the people who need it, the folks in the low- and middle-income countries, are going to see it as a priority.

So, we’re saying, let’s not underestimate the power of a Shigella vaccine. It’s got potential, a lot of it. And it’s about time we start taking this seriously. It’s going to be huge.